Ms. Sarah MurphyLPC

I was always interested in the helping professions and had a great experience working with a therapist. I had been on the fence about going to Immaculata University to study counseling psychology. I went to the shore, sat down in a beach chair, closed my eyes and prayed to the Universe for a sign. I heard one of those planes with banners that fly over the ocean during the summer season. I told myself not to look because I was concentrating on my prayer/meditation. But I couldn't help it. My eyes opened up, and I saw the banner flying in the sky: Immaculata University!

My old suite-mate used to comment on all the laughter coming out of my office. No matter how serious our problems, we usually find our way to laugh about them. But therapy is not just fun and games (though it really can be fun!) It is rewarding work, even though it often seems overwhelming to even begin to ask for help. You can be sure that I'll be calm and steady as we work together. We'll use conversation, mindfulness, and energy practices to overcome even longstanding issues.

Therapy works when clients have learned the tools that help them navigate life crises and transitions. Those periods in life, difficult as they are, really inform who we are becoming. It is so important to think, feel, talk, and process our way through challenging times. When we do, we can turn any challenge into a transformative experience and come out on the other side, wiser, stronger, and happier than before.

• Pennsylvania, Licensed Professional Counselor, PC010578

I have been a therapist since 2007. I was a single mom with three little boys. They are men now! I was a Reiki master and yoga teacher while I was in graduate school. Whenever I had to write a paper, I always chose trauma as my research topic. I was frustrated by the lack of efficacy of the regular talk therapy approach of the day. That led me to investigate other less-popular approaches that I hoped would be more helpful. In my investigation, I found EFT and other energy psychology approaches. The research and stories were amazing, and I was determined to master this process to help my clients overcome traumas great and small. In addition to my enthusiasm for energy psychology, I've been meditating for nearly 20 years, and this informs my work -- and my worldview. Before counseling I worked as a software trainer. I studied government as an undergrad. In addition to my private practice, I serve as Staff Counselor for Unite for HER (uniteforher.org), a nonprofit that serves people who have breast or ovarian cancer. I also volunteer with some professional organizations: I blog for ACEP, the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (energypsych.org), and serve on the Government Relations Committee for the Pennsylvania Counseling Association.